Flats in general are their own animal, and TIs flats in particular I find give a nice fat, warm tone notwithstanding their size.
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Lighter Gauge = Wimpier?
- Thread starter bassplayer7768521
- Start date
Flats in general are their own animal, and TIs flats in particular I find give a nice fat, warm tone notwithstanding their size.
For me it seemed to give me less beef and punch. I try for a few gigs raised the action. But then just took them off and went back to the .45- 105
Personally I use .100-.130-.150-.180-.210-.270 gauge strings on my bongo.
Really helps give me that bone rattling teeth chattering "Holy balls on a stick Batman!" Sound I want.
Really helps give me that bone rattling teeth chattering "Holy balls on a stick Batman!" Sound I want.
Are you talking about TI flats? (Assming so, yes they don't punch like LaBellas but they're very warm and full sounding, just play some Pino Palladino from John Mayer and that's the tone.)
One of the guys around here plays super light string with obscenely low action. It take absolutely no pressure to fret a note at all.
He can play that thing amazingly fast.
I only seem to be able to get fret buzz out of it.
To each his own....
He can play that thing amazingly fast.
I only seem to be able to get fret buzz out of it.
To each his own....
i did an experiment...
i use DR 105-45's, then i switched to 100-40's just to ease my wrists a bit (and could play a lot faster), but i noticed i couldn't get people on the dance floor. i then went back to the heavier gauge and they started dancing again. so i guess you could say there was a difference.
i use DR 105-45's, then i switched to 100-40's just to ease my wrists a bit (and could play a lot faster), but i noticed i couldn't get people on the dance floor. i then went back to the heavier gauge and they started dancing again. so i guess you could say there was a difference.
perhaps YOUR personal feelings towards 'wimpier' strings coming out in your playing was the difference
EQ plays a big role too.. if you switch strings its natural that the tone changes, light when you go mediums to lights.. well it depends on what you are used to...
That makes sense to me. I like the mediums for the meat and potato pocket playing which is what makes people dance (at least sometimes when it is done right
). I was just telling someone the other day, that I give up ergonomics (lighter strings, lower action) for tone. And that's were I stand at least for now.
I just recently switched from Fender 7250 .45-.105 to Fender 7250 .45-.100 on my P bass. Don't know, maybe just my experience and settings, but other than making the bass more playably and actually better balance volume-wise from string-to-string, I don't think I lost any substance.
i didn't really complete my story....i was kind of implying that the lesser tension made my playing more 'choppy' and i played faster, whereas with heavier strings i play bigger notes and subsequently funkier. i was trying to be funny but in retrospect i messed up.
bollocks
Small change to tone but not as much change as diff brand of strings would give. Theres tons of world touring pros with cd's out in stores all over the world. Who use nothing but light gauge. One shouldnt care what the amatuers think. Lol. light gauge strings can have excellent sound. I'll take light gauge of my fave brands over any offered gauge fromk brands whose strings I dont like the sound of. I use 45's for bass and 9's for guitar. And I have a heavier and darker yet still very articulate tone then most for both guitar and bass. This as result of woods used in instruments I buy, pups used, and processor eq'ing.
I've used very light strings on one of my main basses for at least 15 years(35,50,70,90,118). I've never had a single comment from an engineer, artist or fan about the tone being thin. As a matter of fact they often request I bring that bass. It is very subjective mind you as I've tried light strings on some basses that don't work well. For example I've found that I don't like them on a P.
I'm finding that on 5's, I prefer them lighter than 4's, especially if it's a more technical gig. My hands like it to be sure.
I'm finding that on 5's, I prefer them lighter than 4's, especially if it's a more technical gig. My hands like it to be sure.
I think anything you lose by switching to lighter strings you can just get back with EQ. I use 35-93 D'Addarios and I'll never go back! for flats I use 40-95 because I can't find anyone who makes a .35 in a flat, but since they're softer and flat, they almost feel the same to me
For me, once it's a quality set of strings I'll go for comfort first and make up any 'loss' with the amp. And it DOES vary with instrument - on my weaker necked VMJ, DR Sunbeams 40 - 100 have been the answer to my final little niggling playability issues, and I actually prefer the apparently more magnetically responsive nickel. The Ibby 5er on the other hand still has 45 - 130 HiBeams and is just as playable.
